Medicine bottle label



Nov. 17, 1953 J. 5. COOK ET AL 2,659,614

MEDICINE BOTTLE LABEL Filed Sept. 20, 1950 INVENTORS JOHN s.c 00K AND DAVID v. WHITNEY JR.

BY QM! 64-6 1;

ATTORNEY Patentecl Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEDICINE BOTTLE LABEL Application September 20, 1950, Serial No. 185,852

This invention relates to labels. More particularly it relates to those labels which are adapted for use as dispensing labels on bottles, vials and other containers for dispensing medical preparaticns, and to processes for afiixing such dispensing labels to containers.

In the marketing of medicinal preparations it is necessary that the label show the name of the product, the net quantity in the container, the active and inert ingredients, the necessary warnings and precautions relating to use of the prodnot, and the name of the manufacturer or distributor of the product.

When the preparation is prescribed by the practitioner, however, it is customary either to remove this name label or to obliterate or cover it with a prescription label containing written directions for the use of the preparation. This practice is followed so that the practictioner can adjust the dosage and frequency of application of the drug to the needs of the particular patient involved as well as to insure that an unqualified individual will not later attempt to prescribe the same drug for his own ills or those of his friends.

Past attempts to combine the necessary name label with a prescription label to form a single dispensing label performing both these functions have not been satisfactory for various reasons. The problem involves devising a label with an outer name panel held firmly and positivel in place but which at the same time is readily detachable from the container when it is desired to dispense the drug on prescription.

It has been suggested that the outer panel be held in place by a small tab glued directly to the container surface. Aside from the additional time and expense necessary to apply such a label to the container, the removal of the outer panel leaves an objectionable spot of glue residue and paper fibers alongside the prescription label. If the outer panel is permitted to hang loosely and is not separately attached to the surface, it is extremely likely to become detached or accidentally torn from the container during packing for shipment or by subsequent handling. When this happens there is left a container labeled only with a blank prescription label and such an unidentified product can not safely be used.

We have now discovered a dispensing label which may be afiixed to a container so that the outer panel is held firmly against the inner panel of the label without the use of a glued tab or other means. When desired the outer panel may be readily torn oif to expose an inner panel which is tightly attached to the container surface.

7 Claims. (Cl. 283-21) One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a double label having the outer label readily detachable. Another object is to provide a double label having the outer panel held firmly in place to insure that said outer panel will not become detached accidentally during handling. A. further object is to provide a double label which is aifixed to the container while in folded relation and having the inner panel tightly attached to the container surface. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fi l is a view in side elevation of a container having the double label attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is perspective view of the label showing the outer panel lifted up to expose the inner panel; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the reverse side of the label showing the application of adhesive thereto.

Referring to the embodiment shown in the drawing, the label which is usually made of paper or other like flexible sheet material comprises two sections, an outer panel designated A and an inner panel designated B. Outer panel A is folded along tear line it) to overlay inner panel B to form a double label having a tear line along the line of fold. For reasons which will hereinafter be more fully explained panel A is preferably substantially narrower than panel B and when folded over panel 'B, the lower edge ll, of panel A is an appreciable distance above the lower edge 12 of panel B.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the inner panel B may contain printed directions l3 for the use of the medicament together with the space M for such additional instructions as the individual prescribing may desire to add.

The reverse side of panel B is coated with suitable adhesive 15 as shown in Fig. 4. We prefer to apply adhesive to the label when panel A is folded along tear line I0 and overlaying inner panel B. When this procedure is followed no adhesive is inadvertently spread on the face of panel A and the label is in proper folded relation for affixing to the container C as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Panel A is provided with suitable label indici I6 and may be printed with the information re quired by statute in labeling medicinal preparations. It is apparent from Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 that when the label is spread out fiat panel B bears printing on its outer face while panel A bears printing on its reverse side. Thus when the label is folded along tear line H! to super-impose panel A over panel B and the folded label affixed to the container, the printing on panel A is exposed to view and the preparation is labeled in conformance with the Federal Drug and Cosmetic Act. When it is desired to prescribe the medicament for use, the outer panel is detached from the container thereby exposing the inner, dispensing panel which is firmly attached to the container.

In using double labels on containers having an arcuate surface we have found that the curvature of the surface operates eifectively to hold the outer panel firmly in placewithout the necessity of using a glued tab or other means so long as the label is positioned so that the line of fold of the two Sections follows a curved path. This may be achieved by placing the line of fold at either top or bottom of the folded label when applying the label to a container having the general shape of a vertical cylinder as illustrated in Fig. 1. In the case of a spherical or similarly shaped container the line of fold may be at either top or bottom-or at either side of the label since in any of these cases the line of fold will then describe a curved line when the folded label is applied to the container. rations are normally distributed in bottles or vials or similar containers having the shape of avertical cylinder we prefer to place the line of fold at the top edge of the folded label as shown in Fig. 1.

In applying a folded label to a container surface we may employ any suitable label adhesive. We prefer using an animal or. vegetable adhesive and have found that most satisfactory results are obtained when a thin even coating of such adhesive is employed.

As previously pointed out, the outer panel A is preferably substantially shorter than inner panel B so that when folded the lower edge of the inner panel extends below the corresponding edge of the upper panel. We have found this condition to be desirable in our process for afiiving folded double labels to containers since we are thereby able to coat the reverse side of the inner panel with adhesive without the risk of inadvertently also spreading adhesive on the back of the top panel. Should this happen the two panels of the label would either be glued together or the edge of the top panel would be glued directly to the container. Either of these conditions is to be avoided since the user is thereby unable to remove the outer panel without defacing the dispensing label.

In addition to the advantages heretofore set forth we find that providing the folded label with the inner panel slightly longer than the outer panel aids in the subsequent removal of the outer panel. Although the top panel is held tightly against the lower panel an edge of the top panel may be readily lifted from the surface of the container by resting a fingernail on the exposed edge of the lower panel and inserting it beneath the top panel. The top panel is then readily torn from the container.

While the two sections of the label may be of the same size, or the top panel may be larger, we find that in either of these cases the inner label is frequently defaced in attempting to lift up the outer'panel so that it may be detached.

In: our process for afiixing double: labels the Since medical prepa- .4 filled and sealed containers are collected at the labeling point where supplies of previously folded labels are ready for attachment to the containers. The folded label is placed with the reverse side of the inner panel exposed and a thin coating of a suitable adhesive is applied either by a gluing machine or by hand operation. The reverse side of the folded label is then placed onrthe container surface so that the line of'fold follows the curvature of the surface and the label is pressed against the container surface. On the drying of the adhesive, the inner panel is found to be firmly attached to the surface with the outer panel held tightly againstthe surface of the inner panel.

The labeled containers are then placed either in individual cartons or in larger boxes with corrugated pasteboard dividers and are shipped to distribution points. The containers will be removed from the packages and frequently will be placed on dealers shelves before they ultimately are dispensed on prescription to individual users. It is apparent that in the repeated handling of the containers from the filling step to the eventual dispensing numerous outer panels will accldentally become detached and lost unless they are securely held in place. By practicing the present invention the loss and inconvenience caused by the inadvertent tearing off of the name label during handling is eliminated-while at the same time the advantages of the dual purpose dispensing label are retained.

The foregoing specification describes certain embodiments of the invention and: it will be understood that ve riations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination, a container havingan arouate surface, and a label rigidly affixed to the container surface, the label comprising an inner panel secured to the container surface, and an outer panel foldedover the inner panel and joined to the inner panel only along the line offold, the line of fold being on a tear line forming an edge of the label and describing an are on the container surface.

2. In combination, a container having. an arouate surface and a label rigidly afiixed to the container surface, the label comprising an inner panel secured to the container surface; and an outer panel folded over the inner panel and secured to the inner panel only along the line of fold, the line of fold being on a. tear line forming the top edge of the label and describing an arc on the container surface.

3. In combination, a container having, an arouate surface and a label secured; to the container surface, the label comprising an inner panel af fixed to the container surface by an adhesive, and an outer panel folded over the inner panel on a tear line and attached to theinnerv panel only along the tear line, the tear line describing an are on the container surface.

4. In combination, a container having anarcuate surface, and a label affixed to the container surface, the label comprising an inner panel secured to the container surface, and an outer panel folded over the inner panel and attached to the inner panel only along the tear line, the tear line describing an are on the container surface, the inner and outer panels being of substantially the same width, and the. inner panel being appreciably longer than theouter panel.

5. In combination, a container having: anup.- right cylindricalshape and alabel'secured to the container surface, the label comprising an inner panel attached directly to the container and an outer panel overlying the inner panel and attached thereto only along a tear line forming the top edge of the label and describing an are on the container surface whereby the outer panel is held tightly against the inner panel by the curvature of the line of fold leaving the outer panel free to be detached from the container without defacing the inner panel. 1 6. The combination comprising a cylindrically shaped container and a double label secured thereto, the label comprising an inner panel attached to the container surface and an overlying outer panel joined to the inner panel only along 1 a tear line describing an are on the container surface whereby the curvature of the tear line holds the outer panel against the inner panel leaving the outer panel freely detachable along the tear line without defacing the inner panel.

7. In combination, a container having an armate surface, and a label securely affixed thereto, said label comprising one panel secured to the container surface, and a second panel joined to the fixed panel only along a tear line, said tear line describing an are on the container surface.

JOHN S. COOK. DAVID V. WHIT'NEY, J 3.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,273,105 Van Dyke July 16, 1918 1,705,407 Jofie Mar. 12, 1929 2,422,314 Rheinstrom June 17, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 565,290 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1944 

